Television and like system



May 28, 1940 F. voN oKoLlcsANYl 2,202,541

'mmvrsrou um LIKE swrswma l Filed nec. 8,1956 4 shams-sheet 1fflllpll'lzfllll,"111111,1

May 28, 1940. F. voN oKoLlcsANYl 2,202,541

I TELEVISION AND LIKE SYSTEM Filed Dec. 8, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May'2s, 1940.

F. VON OKOLICSANYF TELEVISION AND LIKE SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDec. 8,v 1936 May 28, 1940. F. voN oKoLlcsANYl TELEVISION AND LIKESYSTEM Filed Dec. 8, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May Z8, 1940 orricsTELEVISION AND LIKE SYSTEM Franz von kolicsanyi, Kensington, London,England Application December 8, 1936, Serial No. 114,729 In GermanyDecember 12, i935 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to television and like systems.

For some purposes, for example, for military purposes and fortelevision-telephone from one house to another, present-day televisionmethods are unnecessarily costly, complicated and somewhat unreliable,and also require to be carefully operated on account of thesynchronisation. It has always been an ideal to transmit the wholepicture at once, instead of empioying scanning methods, since thebrightness of the picture is increased and the operation of theapparatus is simplified. From an economic point of View, a separatetransmission channel and a separate L amplifier for each single pictureelement is not feasible, and to overcome this diiculty it has alreadybeen proposed to allot to each picture point its own carrier frequencyand to transmit this frequency complex over one channel. However, nosuggestion has been made for practical apparatus embodying this proposalwhich avoids both at the transmitter and the receiver the use ofrotating or moving parts which must rotate or move at constant orsynchronous speeds. The i5 accuracy of such speeds is of the highestimportance since it determines the correct location of the pictureelements on the receiving screen, and any slight variation of the speedwill thus produce a serious distortion of the received picture. Theideal system for small portable transmitters and receivers and fortelevision-telephone purposes is one in which all the picture elementsare transmitted simultaneously and in which an inaccurate working of thetransmitter cannot 5 affect the location of received picture elements.

One object of the invention is to provide small portable transmittingand receiving systems operating on the principle of the simultaneoustransmission of all picture elements, and avoid- 4 ing the use of anyconstant speed rotating parts and any synchronizing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small portabletelevision system for the transmission of simple messages which can beeasily 45 adapted to transmit such messages in code.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple televisionsystem for producing stereoscopic images.

A still further object of ythe invention is to pro- 50 vide atelevision-telephone system in which the receiver operates with very lowvoltages and without rotating parts so that it can be worn with safetyon the head of a subscriber.

Yet another object of the invention is to proy55 vide atelevision-telephone system in which the (Cl. HSM-6) receiver of onesubscriber can be moved to produce a corresponding movement of thetransmitter of another subscriber.

In general, these and other objects are achieved by a method whichcomprises forming an image 5 of an object, generating a singleoscillatory current, continually changing the frequency of said currentbetween two limits, utilizing said current to maintain in constantvibration the individual y members of a rst set of resonant bodies, thek10 number of said bodies being equal to the number of elemental areasof said image, and each body having a dierent natural frequency,utilizing the vibration of each of said bodies to interrupt the lightfrom an elemental area of said image, translating the resulting lightvariations into electric currents and transmitting said currents over asingle channel to a receiver, utilizing the received currents to vibratethe individual members of a second set of resonant bodies, each currentvibrating that body which has a natural frequency equal to the frequencyof the current, and utilizing the vibration of the bodies to controllight to reconstitute the image.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows schematicallytransmitting apparatus embodying the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate in detail the system of 30 vibrating reeds;

Fig. 4 shows schematically the electrical circuit employed to excite thereed system;

Fig. 5 shows schematically receiving apparatus embodying the invention;l

Figs. 6 and 7 show an alternative form of construction for the vibratingreed system;

Figs. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the action of atelevision system embodying the vibrating reed system shown in Figs. 640 and '7;

Figs. l0 and ll are 'explanatory diagrams illustrating an alternativeform of the invention; and

Fig. l2 shows schematically a stereoscopic television-telephone system.

Referring to Fig. l, an image of an object l is projected by means of alens 2 on` the surface of apparatus 3, which apparatus is shown incletail in Figs. 2 and 3. The apparatus consists of a plurality of reeds4 each of which forms an 50 armature of an electro magnet system, andare similar to the reeds of the well known frequency meters. Thewindings of the electromagneft system are shown at 5. This system ofreeds is enclosed in a casing 6 in the upper surface of 55 which areprovided slots 1, the arrangement being such that when a reed isdeflected, its end surface 8 covers a slot, but when it is undeflected,it uncovers the slot. Each reed is tuned in such a manner that thenatural frequencies of the reeds differ from one another. This isachieved in the arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3 by constructing all thereeds in one row so that they have the same thickness but decreasinglengths, and consequently increasing frequencies, whilst the reeds inthe next row also have the same thickness and decreasing lengths, buttheir thickness is greater than that of the reeds of the first row, andso on On the upper surface of the casing 6 is placed a series ofspherical lenses il, the number of these lenses being equal to thenumber of the reeds. These lenses may conveniently be formed from onepiece of transparent material such as glass. The focal point of eachlens is at the surface 8 of its corresponding reed. The surface 8 ofeach reed is polished so that if all the reeds were deflected so as tocover their respective slot '1, the light from the object l would becompletely reflected upon the photo cell ID. The effect of each lens 9is such that the light from one picture element Il is concentrated bythe lens upon the surface 8 of a reed when the latter is in itsdeflected position, and is reiiected again througi the lens 9 to thephoto cell lli. 'Ihus although the reflecting surfaces of the reeds donot themselves form a continuous surface, the action of the lenses 9 inconcentrating the pencil of light from each picture element on to a reedand in diffusing it again to its original size after reflection by thereed, produces the same effect as if the reeds formed a continuoussurface.

The windings of the electromagnetic system of the reeds are connectedthrough the terminals I2 to an oscillator I3 which is controlled by atime base circuit I4. The action of these circuits is illustrated inmore detail in Fig. 4. In this ligure a condenser l is charged by abattery Ithrough a resistance l1, until its voltage is equal to thebreakdown voltage of the glow discharge tube i8. At this point adischarge takes place and a current ows through the resistance i9, theduration of the discharge being determined by the value of thisresistance. The charging period then recommences and consequentlycurrents having a saw-toothed wave form ow through the winding 2l) ofthe coil 2l This coil has a dust-iron core and consequently theinductance or" the winding 22 will vary in accordance with the value ofthe current flowing through the winding 2li; that is to say its curve ofvariation will have a saw-toothed form. The coil 22 forms part of theoscillatory circuit of the valve oscillator 23, the output of which isconnected to the windings 5. Consequently these windings will betraversed by an oscillating current the frequency of which variescontinually in accordance with a changing inductance of the coil 22.VThe range of variation of this frequency is so chosen that itcorresponds to the range of frequencies covered by the naturalfrequencies of the reeds il. Hence all the reeds will be set intovibration and their damping is so chosen that they oscillatecontinuously with constant amplitude, each at its own frequency, inspite of the fact that they are only excited intermittently. In order toprevent the period of the time base currents themselves from aifectingdirectly any reed this period must be so chosen that it is less thelowest of the natural frequencies of the reeds and greater than thehighest frequency difference between two consecutive reed frequencies.

Hence the light reflected on the photo cell lil is interrupted orchopped in such a Way that the light from each picture element ischopped at a different frequency. There will thus be produced in theoutput circuit of the photo cell it a number of sub-carrier frequencieseach representative of the one picture element and each modulated inintensity in accordance with the variation in brightness of the element.These currents are amplified in the amplifier 24 and are employed tomodulate a carrier frequency in the modulator and transmitter 25 and aretransmitted from the aerial 26.

It will be appreciated from the above that the end surfaces of the reedsmay reflect or deflect or interrupt the light incident upon them so thatit falls upon a light responsive device only in a selected position ofthe reeds, particularly in their extreme or resting position. The endsurfaces of the reeds may also permit the light to pass unobstructed toa light sensitive device in one position of the reeds, while these endsurfaces obstruct the light in another position of the reeds. Thus theend surfaces of the reeds serve to control the lights falling upon thelight sensitive device.

If I refer, therefore, in the appended claims to a controlling action ofthe reeds and their end surfaces with respect to light falling upon alight sensitive device, I Wish it understood that the above functions ofthe reeds and particularly their end surfaces are meant by it.

A receiver for use with the above described transmitter is illustratedin Fig. 5. The transmitted signals are received by the aerial 21, areamplified by the high frequency amplifier 2B and are detected by thedetector valve 29. The output of this valve will thus consist of all theoriginal modulated sub-carrier frequencies, and these frequencies arefed through the terminals to the electromagnet windings of apparatus 3l, which is similar in every respect to the apparatus illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3. Each subcarrier frequency will thus set into oscillationa reed having the same natural frequency, the amplitude of theoscillation depending upon the amplitude of the sub-carrier frequency.Light from the source 32 is projected by a lens 33 on to the surface ofthe reeds and is reflected therefrom through the lens 34 on to theViewing screen 35. Since the amount of light reflected from each reedwill depend only upon the amplitude of its vibration there will bereconstituted on the screen 35 an image of the object I.

If desired, the lens 34 and screen 35 can be dispensed with and thesurface of 3l viewed directly. Furthermore, instead of the light source32, light from any source such as daylight can be admitted into theinterior of the apparatus through a slot 36 in the casing of theapparatus, this light being transmitted past the reeds to the eye. Inthis case the slots 1 are so arranged that they are covered by the endsurfaces of the reeds when. the latter are in their stationary or normalposition.

The number of picture elements in the received picture is obviouslyequal to the number of reeds, and this number is determined by thepurpose for which the apparatus is employed. Thus, when the apparatus isused for military pur'- poses the number of picture elements and hencethe number of reeds employed can be relatively 7lsmall. For example, forthe purpose of transmitting letters or simple messages, Q pictureelements would be sufficient, and in this case the total width of thefrequency band employed is extremely small, and is of the order of thefrequency band used in telegraphy. Thus the amplifier and other circuitsused can be of very simple design. In Figs. 6 and Y is illustrated amodification of the apparatus whereby such messages can be transmittedin code. In this case each reed and its associated electromagnetic sy..-tem is formed as a single unit, as shown in Fig. 6. The reed 40 issecured to the bar 4| and vibrates between the pole pieces 42 of anelectromagnet, the energising coil of which is indicated at 43. The endsof the coil windings are connected to the plugs 44 so that the wholesystem may be conveniently detached from the remainder of the apparatus,which is illustrated in Fig. 7. In this figure the casing 65 is providedwith a number of sockets 46 into which can be plugged the reed systems.When all the reed systems are inserted the cover 41 which contains theslots 48 and the superimposed lens plate Mis secured to the casing 45.For normal working the reed systems are inserted in their respectivesockets in such order that the frequencies of the reeds increaseprogressively from one reed to the next as in the arrangement of Figs. 2and 3. For code work, however, the reed systems are plugged into thesockets in a different order, which would depend upon the particularcode being used, so that the frequency distribution is quite irregular.At the receiver the reed systems must be arranged in a manner exactlycorresponding to those at the transmitter in order that an intelligiblemessage could be received. This can beunderstood more readily byreference to Figs. 8 and 9 in which the small numbered squares representthe areas covered by each picture element, whilst the numbers representorder of the frequencies of the corresponding reeds. Thus the reed ofthe square numbered l will have the lowest natural frequency, the reedof the square numbered 2 will have the next highest frequency, and soon.A Fig. 8 represents the arrangement at the transmitter in which thedistribution of the reeds with respect to frequency is seen to be quiteirregular. Fig. 9 represents an arrangement at the receiver in which thedistribution of the reeds with respect to frequency is `the normal one.The shaded squares repre- Ysent the letter H which is being transmitted,and

the quite irregular pattern which would be received by a receiver set upin this normal manner.

It is clear that without a knowledge of the code it will be impossibleto set up the receiver in a manner which corresponds to the set-up ofthe transmitter, since with (it) picture elements, for example, theprobability of accidentally arriving at the correct combination is ofthe order of 1:1080. Also since the disturbance of the transmitted imageis not produced by any periodical or regular change in the transmission,as is known secret transmission systems, it is impossible to detect thelaw governing this disturbance.

For the purpose of television-telephone, it is necessary to have asomewhat ner degree of definition as in the example previouslydescribed. This can be overcome, however, by making the definition inthe centre of the picture finer than at the outside edges and by makingthe frequency difference between adjacent elements greater in the centreof the picture than at the edges. This is illustrated diagrammaticallyin Fig. 10, in which the numbered squares represent the pictureelements, and in which it is seen that the size of the elements at thecentre is much smaller than at the edge, the natural frequency allottedto each element being indicated by the number of the square. In Fig. 11is shown a curve in which the frequency of the elelnent is plottedvertically and the number of the element is plotted horizontally. It isseen that the frequency does not increase uniformly from element toelement but increases in a discontinuous manner. For the purpose ofclarity the definition in these ngures is shown much coarser than wouldbe employed in practice.

The television portion of a complete televisiontelephone system is shownschematically in Fig. 12. An image of the ob-ject 50 is projected bylenses 5l on to a pair of reed systems 52 which are similar to thatillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 but which are curved in one p-lane asshown. The frequency band covered by the natural frequencies of thereeds of one of the systems is different from and immediately adjacentto that of the other, so that any one reed of both systems has its ownindividual frequency which is not dupli" cated in either of the systems.Light is reflected from these systems by means (not shown) on to thephoto electric cells 53 and the output of these cells is amplified at 54and transmitted over the telephone line 55 to the receiver. 56 and 51represent the time base circuit and oscillator for maintaining the reedsof the transmitter in continuous vibration and the frequency of thegenerated oscillation will change continuously over a range which coversthe total frequency band of the two reed systems. The received currentsare fed to the windings of the electro-magnets of two correspondingsystems of reeds 58 and the television subscriber directly observesthese two systems, one with each eye, so that stereoscopic vision isprovided. Light is admitted through the slots 59 and is modulated bytransmission past the Vibrating reeds as described in connection withFig. 5. The systems 58 are worn on the head of the subscriber and a link60 which pivots about the point Elv is provided so that as he turns hishead the value of the resistance 62 is altered. The changing currentsfrom the battery 63 thus produced are transmitted over the line 5ft tothe transmitting station where they flow through the coil 65 and thusattract the armature 66 to a more or less degree. This produces acorresponding movement of the transmitter through the link 61 whichpivots' about the point 58. Thus as the subscriber at the receiver moveshis head from side to side corresponding movements will be produced atthe transmitter and he will thus see a different field of viewreproduced in his receiver. Other methods of producing this movement areobviously possible. Thus, for example, an image oi' the eye of thesubscriber may be formed on a system of photocells, so that as he move-shis head changing currents are produced which can be utilized to controlthe movement of the transmitter or parts thereof.

I claim:

1. In a television and the like transmission system, a light sensitivecell, a transmitting cir'- cuit connected to said cell, a system ofreeds capable of free vibration for a considerable period of time intheir resonant frequency after the cessation of an exciting impulse andplaced in the path of light emerging from an elemental area of an objectto be transmitted towards' said cell so that-each reed controls saidlights falling upon said cell, each of said reeds` being tuned to adifferent frequency, and means for generating vibration excitingimpulses of a sequence shorter than said period of free vibration ofsaid reeds and thereby sufficient for maintaining said reeds incontinuous oscillation, whereby each element of an object is transmittedas a modulation of a distinct carrier wave.

2. In a television and the like system, an object to be transmitted, alight sensitive cell, a transmitting circuit connected to said cell, asystem of reeds capable of free vibration for a considerable period oftime in their resonant frequency after the cessation of an excitingimpulse and placed so that each reed interrupts the light emerging froman elemental area of said object before falling on the cell, each ofsaid reeds being tuned to a different frequency, a circuit adapted toproduce currents having a saw-toothed wave form, a first coil traversedby said currents, a second coil forming part of the oscillatory circuitof a thermionic valve oscillator, both of said coils having a commondust-iron core, and means for feeding the output of said oscillator tosaid electromagnetic system to excite and maintain all of said reeds incontinuous oscillation, whereby each element of the object istransmitted as a modulation of a distinct carrier wave.

3. A television and like transmitting system comprising a plurality ofrows of reeds, each reed forming the armature of an electromagnet systemand being tuned to vibrate at a frequency different from the vibrationfrequency of the remaining reeds, a reflecting end surface for eachreed, a screen placed over said end surfaces, a number of slots in eachscreen equal to the number of said rows, the position of each slot coinnsiding with one extreme position adopted during vibration by said endsurfaces of the reeds of the corresponding row, a plurality of lensescovering said slots and equal in number to the number of reeds, thefocal point of each lens being situated in the area occupied by said endsurface of the corresponding reed in said extreme position, means forforming an image of an object on the surface of said lenses, electricalmeans for producing an exciting current of changing frequency whichperiodically covers the frequency of free oscillation of said reeds,means for feeding said exciting current to said electromagnetic systemand thereby maintaining said reeds in continuous oscillation, means fortranslating the light periodically reflected by said end surfacesthrough said slots and lenses into corresponding electrical variations,and means for transmitting said electrical variations over a commonchannel to a receiver.

4. A television and like transmitting system according to claim 4wherein each reed is provided with its own electromagnet, the reed andelectromagnet constituting a detachable unit.

5. A television and like transmitting system according to claim 4wherein said electrical means comprise a thermionic valve oscillatorhaving a tuned circuit which includes an inductance coil, means forproducing an electric current of periodically changing amplitude, andmeans for utilizing said current to produce corresponding changes in theeffective inductance of said inductance coil.

6. A receiving system for television and like signals which comprise aplurality of sub-carrier waves each fully representative of one elementof an object, said system comprising a plurality of rows of reeds,eachreedcapable ofvibrating freely after a .vibration exciting impulseceased and forming the armature of an electromagnet system and beingtuned to vibrate at a frequency different from the vibration frequencyof the remaining reeds, reflecting end surface for each reed, a screenplaced over said end surfaces a number of slots in said screen equal tothe number of said rows, the position of each slot coinciding with aselected position of said end surfaces of the reeds of the correspondingrow to be vibrated, a plurality of lenses covering said slots and equalin number to the number of reeds, the focal point of each lens beingsituated in the area occupied by said end surface of the correspendingreed in said selected position, means for applying said receivedsub-carrier waves to said electromagnet system to excite vibration ofcorresponding reeds, and means for illuminating such of said endsurfaces that are vibrating to reconstitute the image so that thefraction of light reflected from each element and passing the fixed slotis determined by the angular position of the corresponding end surface.

'7. A receiving system according to claim 6 wherein each reed isprovided with its own electromagnet, the reed and electromagnetconstituting a detachable unit.

8. A receiving system for television and like signals which comprise aplurality of sub-carrier waves each fully representative of one elementof an object, said system comprising a plurality of rows of reeds, eachreed capable of vibrating freely after a vibration exciting impulseceased and forming the armature of an electromagnet system and beingtuned to vibrate at a frequency different from the vibration frequencyof the remaining reeds, an end surface for each reed, a screen placedover said end surfaces, a number of slots in said screen equal to thenumber of said rows, the position of said slots coinciding with aselected position of the end surfaces of the reeds of the correspondingrow to be vlbrated, a plurality of lenses covering said slots and equalin number to the number of reeds, each lens being focussed on the endsurface of the corresponding reed, means for applying said receivedsubcarrier waves to said electromagnet system to excite vibrations ofcorresponding reeds, and means for transmitting light past such endsurfaces that are vibrating through said slots and lenses toreconstitute the image.

9. A television system comprising a transmitter for producing aplurality of sub-carrier Waves each fully representative of one elementof an object, a receiver comprising a plurality of reeds each of whichyis capable of vibrating freely after a vibration exciting impulse ceasedand forms the armature of an electromagnet system and each of which istuned to a frequency different from the remaining reeds and means forapplying said sube-carrier waves* to said electromagnet system to excitevibration of corresponding reeds which control light to reproduce animage of said object, means for varying the strength of an electriccurrent in accordance with movement of said receiver, a transmissionchannel for said electric current, and means at the transmitter forutilizing the variations in the strength of said current to producecorresponding movement of the transmitter.

10. In a television and the like system, in combination, a lightresponsive device, a transmitting circuit connected to said deviceadapted to produce a carrier wave and to modulate it depending on theinten-sity of light falling upon said device.

a plurality of detachable reeds capable of free vibration for aconsiderable period of time in their resonant frequencies after thecessation of an exciting impulse, said resonant frequencies beingdifferent inter se, said reeds each provided with a controlling surfaceto be arranged in the path of light to said device from an elementalarea of an object to be transmitted so that each of said reeds Whenvibrating controls said lights falling upon said device, electricalmeans for producing vibration exciting impulses of changing frequencywhich periodically cover said resonant frequencies in a sequence shorterthan said period of time, an electromagnet system comprising coilelements and cooperating armature elements, one type of said elementsbeing stationary and the other type of said elements being associatedindividually With one of said detachable reeds each, and means forfeeding said impulses to said coil elements and thereby maintaining saidreeds in continuous vibration.

11. In a television and the like system a light responsive device, acircuit connected with said device capable of producing a carrier Waveand modulating it depending on the intensity of light falling upon saiddevice, a plurality of reeds capable of free vibration for aconsiderable period of time in their resonant frequencies after thecessation of an exciting impulse, said resonant frequencies beingdifferent inter se, said reeds each provided with a reiiecting surfaceto be arranged in the path of light to said device from an elementalarea of an object to be transmitted so that each of said reeds whenvibrating interrupts andv reiiects said light upon said device. anelectrical circuit adapted to produce currents having a saw-toothed Waveform covering the resonant frequencies of all said reeds and of a periodshorter than said period of free vibration of said reeds, and a iirstcoil arranged to be traversed by said currents, a second coil forming 'gpart of an oscillatory circuit of a thermionic valve oscillator, saidcoils arranged on a common dust-iron core, an electro-magnetic systemcornprising coil elements and vcooperating armature elements, one typeof said elements being stationary and the othertype of said elementsassociated individually With one of said reeds each, and means forfeeding the output of said oscillatory circuit to said coil elements sothat vibration of all said reeds is excited and maintained FRANZ VONOKOLICSANYI'.

